Picking arm construction in a machine for harvesting fruit grown on plants arranged in a row

ABSTRACT

An improved picking arm construction in a machine for harvesting fruit grown on plants arranged in a row, such as grapes, the picking arm being fulcrumed on a support member movable back and forth transversely of the row, relative movement between such arm and member about such fulcrum being yieldingly restrained, and a finger on the trailing end of the picking arm and extending laterally therefrom.

United States Patent 1 Burton Nov. 27, 1973 [54] PICKING ARMCONSTRUCTION IN A 3,611,689 10/1971 Patzloff. 56/330 M ACHINE FORHARVESTING FRUl-T 3,613,343 10/ 1971 Sagouspe et a1. 56/330 3,688,4829/1972 Horn 56/330 GROWN 0N PLANTS ARRANGED IN A 3,703,072 11/1972Patzlaff..... 56/330 ROW Inventor: Charles G. Burton, Lewiston, N.Y.

Chisholm-Ryder Company, Inc., Niagara Falls, NY.

Filed: Apr. 10, 1972 Appl. No.: 242,419

Assignee:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1969 Orton 56/330 PrimaryExaminer-Russell R. Kinsey Attorney-Sommer & Weber [57] ABSTRACT Animproved picking arm construction in a machine for harvesting fruitgrown on plants arranged in a row, such as grapes,.the picking arm beingfulcrumed on a support membermovable back and forth transversely of therow, relative movement between such arm and member about such fulcrumbeing yieldingly restrained, and a finger on the trailing end of thepicking arm and extending laterally therefrom.

18 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures Patented Nov. 27, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet lPatented Nov. 27, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 27, 1973 3,774,381

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 PICKING ARM CONSTRUCTION IN A MACHINE FOR HARVESTINGFRUIT GROWN ON PLANTS ARRANGED IN A ROW BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONpedicel would be removed from the individual grape berry duringharvesting leaving the berry with an opening through which juice wouldescape prior to processing and which also allowed accelerateddeterioration of the berry to occur. Furthermore, not all conditions andvarieties of grapevines are harvested mechanically with the samefacility using such a prior art type of grape harvester, even though thedegree of agitation of the vine might be varied by adjusting thefrequency and amplitude of the shaker bars.

In my copending application filed concurrently herewith, Ser. No.242,716, I have improved upon the straight shaker bar by providing apicking arm having a laterally extending finger on the trailing end ofthe arm. This allows a different angle of attack on the plant and wasfound to improve picking efficiency, as well as to pick more clusters orclumps of grapes. However, there was still found to be excessive wear ofthe picking arms through contact with cordon vines, plant trunks andposts between which the cordon vines extended, resulting in a shortenedlife of the arms. Inasmuch as these picking arms were cantilever-mountedand subjected to repeated flexing, they were made of fiber glass insteadof metal in order to withstand better the fatigue which flexingproduced. Also, the rate of wear was aggravated when the machine was notmoved centrally along the row. Such offset of the centerline of theharvester with respect to the centerline of the row of vines causedexcessive flexing of the picking arms on the side of the machine closerto the center of the row.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvedpicking arm construction which overcomes the disadvantages of the priorart harvester having shaker bars, and repre- I,

sents a further improvement in a picking arm over that disclosed in mysaid copending application.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a row plantfruit harvester having an effective and efficient picking arm but whichis durable and has a longer life.

More specifically, an important object is to provide an improved pickingarm which has greater stiffness in a vertical plane to improve grapestripping efficiency.

Another specific object isto provide such an improved picking arm whichalso has a greater stiffness in a horizontal plane to facilitate deeperpenetration into the vine foliage while moving at a slower speedtransversely of the vine and hence doing less damage to the grapes andvine.

Another specific object is to provide such an improved picking arm whichis capable of absorbing shocks when engaging'a relatively immovableobject such as a post, plant trunk, or cordon vine as the harvestercarrying the picking arm moves along a rowof plants.

A still further specific object is to provide such an' im= provedpicking arm in which the horizontal flexibility is adjustable. 7

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is atop plan view of a pair ofopposed produce picking arm assemblies, each constructed according tothe present invention, movably arranged on the frame, fragmentarilyillus-trated, of a harvesting machine movable alongside plants bearingproduce to be harvested, such arms being disposed on opposite sides ofthe plants and arranged on said frame for movement back and forthtransversely of the plants.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the right picking armassembly as viewed in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical elevational side view of the pickingarm assembly, taken on line 33 of FIG. 2, and showing the operativeinner face of the assembly, with portions of a guard plate broken away,as viewed from the centerline of the machine looking horizontallylaterally outwardly.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view thereof, takenon line 4-4 of FIG. 3, and showing how the fingers are clamped to thearm bar.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view thereof, takenon line 55 of FIG. 3, and showing how the rod from which the fingers areformed is additionally secured to the arm bar.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view thereof, takenon line 6 6 of FIG. 3, and showing the means providing a yieldingfulcrum for the arm bar on its support member.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view thereof, takenon line 77 of FIG. 3, and showing the means to restrain yieldinglypivotal movement of the arm bar about its fulcrum on the support member.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the trailing end of apicking arm assembly showing a modified finger construction, this viewlooking at the'outside face assembly away from the machine centerline.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view of one of themodified fingers shown in FIG. 8, taken on line 99 thereof.

FIG.'10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the trailing end of apicking arm assembly showing another modified finger construction.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view of themodified finger construction shown in FIG. 10, this view being takengenerally on line llll thereof.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the modified fingerconstruction shown in FIG. 10, the view being taken on line 12l2thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, Crepresents the centerline of a row of plants bearing fruit to beharvested such as a row of grapevines. A machine for harvesting suchfruit is movable along such row in the travel direction represented bythe arrow T and for that purpose there is shown in FIG. 1 the left andright hand portions of a mobile machine frame F which is arranged tostraddle the row. Arranged on each frame'portion illustrated on oppositesides of centerline C is a plurality of vertically spaced fruit pickingassemblies severally represented generally by the numeral 20. Only the'upper assembly is illustrated on each side of the row. Inasmuch as theseassemblies are similar in construction, only a detailed description ofone will be given, it being intended that such description will applyequally to the other assemblies.

The fruit picking means is movable arranged on frame F and is shown asincluding rearwardly extending arm means 21, means 22 including an armsupport member 23 for moving said arm means back and forth transverselyvof the row of plants, fulcrum means 24 providing a fulcrum permittingpivotal movement of the arm means relative to the support member in adirection transverse of the row of plants, and yielding means 25operatively interposed between the support member and the arm means torestrain yieldingly pivotal movement therebetween in one relativedirection about the fulcrum.

Frame F may be of any suitable construction and is shown as includingvertical and horizontal tubular members suitably joined together bywelding. From one vertical frame member a pair of vertically spacedhorizontal lugs extend rearwardly, only the upper one 26 of which showsin FIG. 1. These lugs are apertured to receive an elongated verticalpivot pin 28. Support member 23 which is in the form of a bellcranklever is suitably journaled intermediate its ends on pivot pin 28. Thisbellcrank member includes a lateral arm section 29 which extendshorizontally outwardly from pivot pin 28 and a fore and aft section 30which extends from this pin generally rearwardly and inwardly withrespect to the machine travel line T.

While means for oscillating bellcrank lever 23 may be variouslyconstructed, the same is shown as comprising a pair of vertically spacedhorizontal links extending laterally outwardly from pivot pin 28, onlythe upper one 31 of which shows in FIG. 1. The outer ends of these linkscarry an elongated vertical pivot pin 32 suitably supported thereon. Theouter end of the lateral arm section 29 of the bellcrank lever issuitably journaled on this pivot pin 32. An elongated vertical driveshaft 33 is journaled at opposite ends in upper and lower bearing pillowblocks mounted on frame F, only the upper one 34 of which is illustratedand then on the left hand side of the machine as viewed in FIG. 1. Crankand connecting rod means connect this drive shaft to pivot pin 32. Thisis shown as provided by a commercially avaiable eccentric mechanism 35operatively connected to the drive shaft and suitably connected by anadjustable link 36 to pivot pin 32. It will thus be seen that rotationof drive shaft 33 will cause bellcrank lever 23 to oscillate about thevertical axis of pivot pin 28.

Bellcrank lever 23 is shown as having a horizontal rib 38 outstandingfrom an integral vertical plate 39. This plate along the arm section 30has an inner flat vertical face 40 adjacent its rear end and a moreoutwardly inclined inner flat face 41 adjacent its front end and leadinggenerally toward pivot pin 28.

Arm means 21 is shown as comprising an elongated bar 42, preferably madeof fiberglass, of rectangular cross section and having a transversedimension in a horizontal plane. This arm bar is arranged so that itsforward portion opposes but is slightly spaced from the flat face 40 ofbellcrank lever 23.

The fulcrum means 24 provides a fulcrum for arm bar 42 on its supportmember, the bellcrank lever 23. For this purpose, a fulcrum pad 43 ofresilient material such as rubber is shown interposed between face 40 onsupport member 23 and the opposing face 44 on the arm bar. The fulcrummeans also comprises hold down means for clamping arm bar 42 againstfulcrum pad 43 backed up by support member 23. Such hold down means, asshown in FIG. 6, includes a clamp member 45 embracing the arm bar andsupport member. This clamp member is C-shaped, including inturnedvertical end flange portions 46 and an intermediate vertical web portion48 spaced from these flange portions. Arranged between arm bar and theinner face of web portion 48 of clamp member 45 is a cushion or pad 49of resilient material such as rubber. The plate 39 of support member 23on opposite sides of rib 38 is provided with a pair of outstandingvertically spaced horizontal studs 50. These are provided by providing acounterbored horizontal hole 51 through the portions of plate 39 aboveand below rib 39 and driving externally threaded bolts through suchholes so that their hexagonal heads 52 at the corners between theirflats dig into the cylindrical wall of the enlarged outer counterboredportion of the corresponding hole and thereby are prevented fromrotating.

A shim 53 for each of end flange portions 46 of clamp member 45 is shownas interposed between the inside of it and the opposing side of theplate portion 39 of support member 23. Each shim is shown as having aslot 54 so that it can receive the shank of the corresponding stud 50.The flange portions 46 of the clamp member are severally provided withapertures 55 alined with openings 51 and slot 54 so that these aperturescan receive the shanks of studs 50. A nut 56 is shown arranged on eachof the studs and screwed down against the outside of the correspondingone of the end flange portions 46 of the clamp member to lock the shimfirmly in place.

In assembling the fulcrum means, the fulcrum pad 43 and cushion 49 arenot put in place initially so that web portion 48 of the clamp member 45can be moved close enough to the arm bar 42 to allow the ends of studs50 to be received in apertures 55 of the flange portions 46. Thereafter,nuts 56 are loosely applied to studs 50 and the clamp member 45 is movedback away from the plate 39 of the support member so that fulcrum pad 43and cushion 49 can be inserted. Following this, the clamp member 45 ismoved in the opposite direction so as to partially compress the pad andcushion and to allow insertion of the shims 53. Thereafter, nuts 56 arefurther tightened to maintain the pad and cushion in a compressedcondition. It will be noted that the free ends of the U-shaped shims 53are turned up slightly as indicated at 58 in FIG. 2 so that should thesenuts loosen and the shims tend to retract, these upturned ends willretain the shims in position under the flange portions 46 of the clampmember.

Yielding means 25, as best shown in FIG. 7, comprises a C-shaped bracket59 embracing arm bar 42 and support member 23 and including horizontalend portions 60 extending over the top and bottom edges of this arm barand the plate portion 39 of this support member and also including anintermediate webportion 61 vertically disposed and connected to the endsof end portions 60. A cushion or pad 62 of resilient material such asrubber is shown interposed between the inside of this web portion andthe opposing face 63 of arm bar. Another cushion or pad 64 of resilientmaterial such as rubber is shown as interposed between the opposite sideface 44 of the arm bar and face 40 of the support member. The webportion 61, cushions 62 and 64, arm bar 42 and plate 39 are providedwith a pair of vertically spaced alined horizontal openings, each setbeing collectively indicated at-65. Each set of alined openings 65 isprovided with a bolt 66 having a head 68 at one end and its shankexternally threaded at the other end. Each bolt head 68 thrustiriglybears against face 63 of the arm bar. The bolt shank 66 extends throughthe corresponding alined openings 65 and projects therefrom. A nut 69 isscrewed on each such exposed threaded shank portion. Spring means 70 isshown as interposed between the plate 39 of support member and each nut69 and is preferably in the form of a helical spring surrounding theshank of the corresponding bolt. A washer 71 is shown as arrangedimmediately under each nut to engage directly the corresponding end ofthe spring. It will be seen that the axial positions of the nuts 69 ontheir bolt shanks 66 determine the loading of the spring means.Adjustment is effected by tightening down or backing off the nuts 69.

As the harvesting machine moves along the row of plants and the pickingarm assembly 21 is moved back and forth transversely of the row ofplants, disposed along line C, if the picking arm engages an obstaclesuch as a pole or a cordon wire or a fairly rigid trunk, arm bar 42 canpivot on the fulcrum pad 43 and the springs 70 yieldingly allowexcessivepivotal movement of this arm bar relative to its support member 23 aboutthe yielding fulcrum in order to pass some obstruction, contact withsuch obstruction producing a sufficient force to deflect the arm baroutwardly. Not only is there inherent flexibility in arm bar 42, butadditional flexibility due to the resilience of fulcrum pad 43. Springs70 provide extra flexibility and can be adjusted as to increased ordecreased effect by adjusting the loading on these springs.

In order to prevent abrasion of the front end 72 of arm bar 42 which ispreferably made of fiberglass and also to prevent snagging of the clampbracket 59 and clamp member 45, a guard plate 73 is arranged to coverthe forward end portion of the picking arm assembly 21. This guard plateis in the form of a relatively thin sheet of metal having two holes 74through which the shanks of bolts 66 pass whereby this plate is mountedon the picking arm assembly. The front portion 74 of the plate is bentlaterally outwardly to cover the front end face 72 of arm bar 42 and theportion of the guard plate to the rear of .bolt heads 68 lies relativelyclosely to the arm bar 42 but has a trailing laterally offset portion 75which covers the front edge of the clamp member 45. I

Finger means, indicated generally at 76, are providedon the trailing endof the arm means 21 and extend laterally therefrom. In FIGS. l-5, suchfinger means is shown as comprising a length of metal rod bent toprovide a central transverse vertical section 78 from the opposite endsof which extend a pair of offset sections 79 joined into a pair ofparallel orizontal'sections 80 terminating in a pair of angled fingers81-. Transverse section 78 is arranged against the outer side face 44 ofarm bar 42. Parallel sections 80 extend along the upper and lower edgesof the arm bar. The fingers 81 extend downwardly relative to theparallel sections 80 and also laterally relative thereof to point in adirection away from the transverse section 78. An ear 82 is shown aswelded to transverse section 78 on the forward side thereof and isarranged to lie flat against face 44 of the arm bar. This ear and thearm bar are provided with alined horizontal apertures, collectivelyindicated at 83, to receive a fastener in the form of a stove bolt 84having a head 85 bearing against side face 63 of the arm bar. A nut 86is threadedly engaged on an externally threaded end portion of the boltshank remote from its head 85 and is screwed down against ear 82.

A clamp bar 88 is provided at the trailing end of arm bar 42 and, asbest shown in FIG. 4, embraces the same and parallel rod sections 80 andhas a web portion 87 and inturned end portions 89. Web portion 87overlies side face 63 of the arm bar and protects it at its rear insideedge from abrasion. This clamp bracket including its end portions andthe arm bar are provided with a vertically spaced pair of alinedhorizontal apertures, each set being collectively indicated at 90. Afastener for each such pair of alined apertures is provided, suchfastener having a head 91 and a shank 92, the free end portion of whichis externally threaded. The shank 92 of each such fastener extendsthrough its set of alined apertures and the head 91 bears against theoutside of the clamp bracket, a nut 93 being provided on the threadedend portion of the shank to bear against the outside of the end portions89 of this clamp bracket.

Fingers 81 extend downwardly relative to the horizontal sections 80 asshown in FIG. 3 at an angle of about 25. These fingers also extendinwardly toward the centerline C of the row relative to the longitudinalaxis of the arm bar 42 also at an angle of about 25,as viewed from aboveas illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Under certain circumstances, it might be desirable to have pickingfingers of larger diameter than those shown in FIGS. l-3. A modifiedconstruction of picking finger is shown in FIG. 8 in which a tube 94 ofplastic material such as urethane tubing is arranged over each pickingfinger 81. This increases the diameter of the picking fingers which willreduce the leaf loss and may be more desirable in picking immaturegrapes. Leaf loss is more harmful to the grapevines in early picking.The resilient coating on the picking fingers providedby the urethanetubing tends also to reduce cane breakage late in the season when thecane is brittle. Further, a larger diameter finger can be made variablein diameter by applying different thicknesses of tubing so 'as todetermine the bestsize for harvesting a particular variety of grape atharvest time.

Another modification of picking finger is illustrated in FIGS. 10-12.This modification comprises a curved finger'member 95 formed of flexiblematerial such as rubber which has a forward attaching section 96 ofgreater height than thickness arranged against the outside face 44 ofarm bar 42 and a free trailing section 98 which gradually reduces inthickness toward its rear extremity and curves laterally across the rearend face 99 of said arm bar inwardly toward the centerline C of the rowof plants'being harvested. The upper and lower edges 100 of the freesection 98 of this finger member are shown 'as converging toward therear extremity.

A bracket plate 101 is provided for covering the vertical edge of thisarm bar between this rear end face 99 and the inside surface 63 of thisarm bar. The bracket has a flange portion 102 overlying such face 63.This flange portion 102, arm bar 42 and attaching section 96 areprovided with a pair of vertically spaced alined horizontal apertures,each set being collectively indicated at 103. A fastener for each suchset of alined apertures is provided, such fastener being in the form ofa stove bolt 104 having a rounded head 105 and an externally threadedshank which extends through the alines apertures. A nut 106 is screwedonto the threaded shank and bears against the exposed side surface ofthe attaching section 96 of finger member 95. This construction of aflexible finger member tends to reduce cane breakage on over maturedvines. Late in the grape harvesting season, for example, leaves falloff, thus exposing the cane, and the cane becomes very brittle,particularly during cold nights.

The penetrating fingers 81, with or without the tubing covers 94, andthe finger member 95 reach into the center of the grape curtain andphysically attack the bunches of grapes. The removal is more by astripping action, particularly of the small diameter fingers 81, thatstrip off whole clusters and fragments of clusters. Consequently, thereis less damage to the product and less juice lost on the machine.

The arm bar 42, preferably made of fiberglass, is in the form of aspring paddle and provides for vertical stiffness of the fingers 81 or95 and horizontal flexibility for varying vine densities and shockabsorbing. The flat panel nature of the arm bar also acts on the outsidesurface of the curtain of grapevines to provide for horizontal agitationof the entire curtain. Consequently, two methods are used to remove thegrapes, namely stripping and shaking.

The coil springs 70 at the forward end of the paddlelike arm bars 42provide for adjustment of force at the picking or trailing end of thearm. High force is provided for dense vines and hard-to-pick varieties.Low force is provided for thin vines and easy-to-pick varieties. Also,the springs 70 act as a safety release to allow the paddle-like arm barsto back off when hit by some vineyard obstruction. Inasmuch as the armbar is preferably made of fiberglass and is suspectible to mechanicaldamage, it is protected by steel and rubber, thus increasing itsmechanical life.

It is not intended to limit the use of the machine of the presentinvention to the harvesting of grapes, but the harvesting of produceincluding other fruits and even vegetables is contemplated if grown onplants, preferably arranged in a row, suitable for harvesting by themachine as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for harvesting produce grown on plants and having aframe movable alongside the plants, wherein the improvement comprisesproduce picking means movably arranged on said frame includingrearwardly extending arm means, means for moving said arm means back andforth transversely of the plants including a support member, fulcrummeans providing a fulcrum permitting pivotal movement of said arm meansrelative to said support member in a direction transverse of the plants,and yielding means operatively interposed between said support memberand said arm means to restrain yieldingly said pivotal movementtherebetween in one relative direction about said fulcrum.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said fulcrum means provides ayielding fulcrum for said arm means on said support member.

3. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said arm means includes an armbar having a transverse dimension greater in a vertical direction than ahorizontal direction.

4. A machine according to claim 3 wherein said fulcrum means comprises afulcrum pad of resilient material interposed between opposing faces onsaid arm bar and said support member.-

5. A machine according to claim 4 which further comprises hold downmeans for clamping said arm bar and said support member against saidfulcrum pad.

6. A machine according to claim 5 wherein said hold down means includesa clamp member embracing said arm bar and said support member, meanssecuring said clamp member to said support member, and a cushion ofresilient material interposed between said arm bar and said clampmember.

7. A machine according to claim 6 wherein said support member includes aplate having a flat face on one side thereof and a rib outstanding fromthe other side thereof, said plate having a pair of externally threadedstuds outstanding from said other side on opposite sides of said rib,said clamp member being C-shaped including end flange portions severallyapertured to receive said studs and an intermediate web portiongenerally parallel to said end flange portions, said cushion beinginterposed between said web portion and one side of said arm bar, saidflat face of said plate being one of said opposing faces the other ofwhich is on said arm bar on the side thereof opposite from said one sideof said arm bar, a shim for each of said end flange portions interposedbetween the inside of it and said other side of said plate, and a nutarranged on each of said studs and screwed down against the outside ofthe corrsponding one of said end flange portions to lock said shim inplace.

8. A machine according to claim 3 wherein said yielding means comprisesa bolt having a head and shank externally threaded remote from saidhead, said arm bar and said support member being provided with alinedapertures to receive said shank, said head thrustingly bearing againstthat side of said arm bar remote from said support member, a nut screwedon such threaded shank portion, and spring means interposed between saidsupport member and said nut, the axial position of said nut on saidshank determining the loading on said spring means.

9. A machine according to claim 3 wherein said yielding means comprisesa C-shaped bracket embracing said arm bar and said support member andhaving end portions and an intermediate web portion, a first cushion ofresilient material interposed between the inside of said web portion andsaid arm bar, a second cushion of resilient material interposed betweensaid arm bar and said support member, said web portion, cushions andsupport member being provided with a pair of spaced alined openings, abolt for each set of said alined openings and having a head and shankexternally threaded remote from said head, said head thrustingly bearingagainst the outside of said arm bar,

said shank extending through said alined openings, a

nut screwed on each such threaded shank portion, and spring meanssurrounding each bolt shank and interposed between said support memberand its said nut, the axial positions of said nuts on said shanksdetermining the loading on said spring means.

10. A machine according to claim wherein said hold down means includes aclamp member embracing said arm bar and said support member and having aweb portion overlying a portion of one side of said arm bar, saidyielding means includes a bracket embracing said arm bar and saidsupport member and having an apertured web portion overlying anotherportion of said one side of said arm bar and provided with spacedapertures, bolts arranged in said apertures and having heads thrustinglybearing against the outside of said apertured web portion, andguardmeans including a guard plate interposed between such bolt heads andsaid outside of said apertured web portion and having apertures throughwhich said bolts extend and covering the leading upright edges of saidweb portions and said arm bar and that portion of said arm barintermediate said web portions.

11. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said produce picking meansfurther comprises finger means on the trailing end of said arm means andextending laterally therefrom.

12. A machine according to claim 11 wherein said produce picking meansfurther comprises clamp means embracing said arm means at the trailingend thereof and securing said finger means to said arm means.

13. A machine according to claim 11 wherein said finger means includes apair of fingers which incline downwardly relative to said arm meansinwardly toward the plants.

14. A machine according to claim 13 wherein said fingers at theirforward ends are joined by an integral transverse section, means forsecuring said section to said arm means, and clamp means embracing saidarm means at the trailing end thereof and securing said fingers to saidarm means.

l5.A machine according to claim 3 wherein said finger means comprises arod bent to provode a central trasnverse section from the opposite endsof which extend a pair of offset sections joined to a pair of parallelsections terminating in a pair of angled fingers, said transversesection being arranged against one side of said arm bar, said parallelsections extending along the upper and lower edges of said arm bar, saidfingers extending downwardly relative to said parallel sections andlaterally relative thereto to point in a direction away fromsaidtransverse section, an ear secured to said transverse section andarranged against said arm bar, said ear and said arm bar being providedwith alined apertures, a fastener having a portion extending throughsaid alined apertures and securing said ear to said arm bar, a clampbracket at the trailing end of said arm bar embracing the same and saidparallel sections, said clamp bracket and said arm bar being providedwith a spaced pair of alined apertures, and a fastener for each of saidpair of alined apertures having a portion extending therethrough andsecuring said parallel sections to said arm bar.

16. A machine according to claim 15 wherein a sleeve is arranged on eachof said fingers so as to increase its transverse dimension.

17. A machine according to claim 11 wherein said finger means is acurved member of flexible material.

18. A machine according to claim 3 wherein said produce picking meansfurther comprises a curved finger member of flexible material which hasa forward attaching section'of greater height than thickness arrangedagainst one side of said arm bar and a free trailing section whichgradually reduces in thickness toward its rear extremity and moveslaterally across the rear end face of said arm bar, the upper and loweredges of said free section converging toward said rear extremity, abracket plate covering the edge of said arm bar between its said rearend face and the side of said arm bar opposite from said one side andhaving a flange portion overlying such opposite side, said flangeportion, arm bar and attaching section being provided with a spaced pairof alined apertures, and a fastener for each of said pair of alinedapertures having a portion extending therethrough and securing saidbracket and finger member to said arm bar.

*zmgg UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECT-ION Patent No.3,774,381 Dated November 27, 1973 7 Inventofls) CHARLES G. BURTON It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

fv v '1 Column 2,- line 17, delete the dash after "illus". I

Column 3, line 56, "avaiable" should read available-.

Column 4, line 3, after "a" (second occurence) insert -vertical planegreater than its transverse-dimension in a--. Column 9, line 42,"provode" should read --pro ide Column 9, line 43, "trasnverse" shouldread transverse--.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of April] 1 9714..

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD II.FLETCHER,JR. C. MARSHALL DANN v Attest ing Qffice'ruGonmissionenof Patents

1. In a machine for harvesting produce grown on plants and having aframe movable alongside the plants, wherein the improvement comprisesproduce picking means movably arranged on said frame includingrearwardly extending arm means, means for moving said arm means back andforth transversely of the plants including a support member, fulcrummeans providing a fulcrum permitting pivotal movement of said arm meansrelative to said support member in a direction transverse of the plants,and yielding means operatively interposed between said support memberand said arm means to restrain yieldingly said pivotal movementtherebetween in one relative direction about said fulcrum.
 2. A machineaccording to claim 1 wherein said fulcrum means provides a yieldingfulcrum for said arm means on said support member.
 3. A machineaccording to claim 1 wherein said arm means includes an arm bar having atransverse dimension greater in a vertical direction than a horizontaldirection.
 4. A machine according to claim 3 wherein said fulcrum meanscomprises a fulcrum pad of resilient material interposed betweenopposing faces on said arm bar and said support member.
 5. A machineaccording to claim 4 which further comprises hold down means forclamping said arm bar and said support member against said fulcrum pad.6. A machine according to claim 5 wherein said hold down means includesa clamp member embracing said arm bar and said support member, meanssecuring said clamp member to said support member, and a cushion ofresilient material interposed between said arm bar and said clampmember.
 7. A machine according to claim 6 wherein said support memberincludes a plate having a flat face on one side thereof and a riboutstanding from the other side thereof, said plate having a pair ofexternally threaded studs outstanding from said other side on oppositesides of said rib, said clamp member being C-shaped including end flangeportions severally apertured to receive said studs and an intermediateweb portion generally parallel to said end flange portions, said cushionbeing interposed between said web portion and one side of said arm bar,said flat face of said plate being one of said opposing faces the otherof which is on said arm bar on the side thereof opposite from said oneside of said arm bar, a shim for each of said end flange portionsinterposed between the inside of it and said other side of said plate,and a nut arranged on each of said studs and screwed down against theoutside of the corrsponding one of said end flange portions to lock saidshim in place.
 8. A machine according to claim 3 wherein said yieldingmeans comprises a bolt having a head and shank externally threadedremote from said head, said arm bar and said support member beingprovided with alined apertures to receive said shank, said headthrustingly bearing against that side of said arm bar remote from saidsupport member, a nut screwed on such threaded shank portion, and springmeans interposed between said support member and said nut, the axialposition of said nut on said shank determining the loading on saidspring means.
 9. A machine according to claim 3 wherein said yieldingmeans comprises a C-shaped bracket embracing said arm bar and saidsupport member and having end portions and an intermediate web portion,a first cushion of resilient material interposed between the inside ofsaid web portion and said arm bar, a second cushion of resilientmaterial interposed between said arm bar and said support member, saidweb portion, cushions and support member being provided with a pair ofspaced alined openings, a bolt for each set of said alined openings andhaviNg a head and shank externally threaded remote from said head, saidhead thrustingly bearing against the outside of said arm bar, said shankextending through said alined openings, a nut screwed on each suchthreaded shank portion, and spring means surrounding each bolt shank andinterposed between said support member and its said nut, the axialpositions of said nuts on said shanks determining the loading on saidspring means.
 10. A machine according to claim 5 wherein said hold downmeans includes a clamp member embracing said arm bar and said supportmember and having a web portion overlying a portion of one side of saidarm bar, said yielding means includes a bracket embracing said arm barand said support member and having an apertured web portion overlyinganother portion of said one side of said arm bar and provided withspaced apertures, bolts arranged in said apertures and having headsthrustingly bearing against the outside of said apertured web portion,and guard means including a guard plate interposed between such boltheads and said outside of said apertured web portion and havingapertures through which said bolts extend and covering the leadingupright edges of said web portions and said arm bar and that portion ofsaid arm bar intermediate said web portions.
 11. A machine according toclaim 1 wherein said produce picking means further comprises fingermeans on the trailing end of said arm means and extending laterallytherefrom.
 12. A machine according to claim 11 wherein said producepicking means further comprises clamp means embracing said arm means atthe trailing end thereof and securing said finger means to said armmeans.
 13. A machine according to claim 11 wherein said finger meansincludes a pair of fingers which incline downwardly relative to said armmeans inwardly toward the plants.
 14. A machine according to claim 13wherein said fingers at their forward ends are joined by an integraltransverse section, means for securing said section to said arm means,and clamp means embracing said arm means at the trailing end thereof andsecuring said fingers to said arm means.
 15. A machine according toclaim 3 wherein said finger means comprises a rod bent to provode acentral trasnverse section from the opposite ends of which extend a pairof offset sections joined to a pair of parallel sections terminating ina pair of angled fingers, said transverse section being arranged againstone side of said arm bar, said parallel sections extending along theupper and lower edges of said arm bar, said fingers extending downwardlyrelative to said parallel sections and laterally relative thereto topoint in a direction away from said transverse section, an ear securedto said transverse section and arranged against said arm bar, said earand said arm bar being provided with alined apertures, a fastener havinga portion extending through said alined apertures and securing said earto said arm bar, a clamp bracket at the trailing end of said arm barembracing the same and said parallel sections, said clamp bracket andsaid arm bar being provided with a spaced pair of alined apertures, anda fastener for each of said pair of alined apertures having a portionextending therethrough and securing said parallel sections to said armbar.
 16. A machine according to claim 15 wherein a sleeve is arranged oneach of said fingers so as to increase its transverse dimension.
 17. Amachine according to claim 11 wherein said finger means is a curvedmember of flexible material.
 18. A machine according to claim 3 whereinsaid produce picking means further comprises a curved finger member offlexible material which has a forward attaching section of greaterheight than thickness arranged against one side of said arm bar and afree trailing section which gradually reduces in thickness toward itsrear extremity and moves laterally across the rear end face of said armbar, the upper and lower edges of said free section converging towardsaid rear extremity, a bracket plate covering the edge of said arm barbetween its said rear end face and the side of said arm bar oppositefrom said one side and having a flange portion overlying such oppositeside, said flange portion, arm bar and attaching section being providedwith a spaced pair of alined apertures, and a fastener for each of saidpair of alined apertures having a portion extending therethrough andsecuring said bracket and finger member to said arm bar.